Shakuhachi: Fundamental Technique Guidance Paperback – Large Print, July 24, 2016

Indispensable partner to understand the basics and start getting beautiful sound of your new flute

I only read the first couple of pages and was inspired. Simple, elegant words to describe not only how to play Shakuhachi. But how to live life.

When i look at this book, it sort of reminds me of a sensei (teacher) who is trying to pass down some old shakuhachi secrets. The book has a primitive look with the graphics of mouth/teeth/lips drawn in a simplistic way. Yet, it's these techniques that are so important in getting the right sound. How to blow air against the utaguchi (mouth piece) is like 90% of the battle in playing. Shakuhachi flute playing isn't easy and the beginning of the book is just the mechanics behind getting sound out how to adjust lips, teeth, tension in lips and so forth, but you soon learn once you try it with a flute and start understanding where Mr. Koga is coming from. After getting your instrument to create sounds, he then leads you into the notes Ro, Tsu, Re, Chi, Ri which are the 5 main notes and how to read shakuhachi notation, low high register, breath mark, repeat notation and so forth so you can start reading shakuhachi music. In the back there is about 32 folk and childrens songs to practice with, so all in all, would recommend this book for anyone looking to start playing a shakuhachi.

This is a wonderful method book. The author goes into detail about the spiritual underpinning of playing the instrument, technical points about how to blow, and how to read Japanese notation.There are beautiful exercises and songs to play along. If you contact the author separately, he will provide, promptly and inexpensively, a CD of himself playing the songs.He also offers private lessons via Zoom. I have just had my first. He is a first-rate teacher!

This is a great introductory book for people interested in learning to play the shakuhachi.I’ve had the book for over a month, and am still working on the first chapter. The technique lessons are excellent, but this is a deceptively difficult instrument.

Another text worth adding to your library

At first glance, I am annoyed that there is a big scratch across the book. So it’s not in new condition. Looking through the book, I enjoy the amount of content for a starter as I am a flute player who is used to looking at method and technique books. I was curious about the use of “Ro”, “Tsu”, “Re”, “Chi”, and “Ri” as Ro and Tsu look like older versions of modern day Japanese characters. I look forward to getting into this book to form a better opinion.

Learned so much ...about history of instrument also!